Son of John and Catherine McMenamon née Devlin. His father was a Sergeant in the RIC. The 1901 Census shows the family at Ballyfarnan, Co. Roscommon. His father was then a RIC pensioner and a shopkeeper provision dealer. Children were James (17), Thomas (15), Patrick (14), Catherine (10), John (8), Michael (6), all born in Co. Wexford. By 1911 his parents were at Carrickmaclin, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan